Steely Dan UK tour 2019!!

[ianrendall]

Steely Dan are coming to the UK in Feb 2019. Wembley Arena, Birmingham, Dublin and Manchester. 

Got my tickets!

[cetera]

Not for me. Decent London tickets start at £78 + fees.

If I hadn't seen them in 10 years, maybe.... but I saw them for less than that last year with the fantastic Doobie Brothers.

[bubinga5]

OMG.! Birmingham for me. Thanks for the heads up.

[fleabag]

I guess it's just Fagen and some musicians, since 50% of the band has sadly died

[Kebabkid]

If you can't get to see them but fancy seeing a fantastic SD tribute act, I recommend Stanley Dee and they usually play around the M25 (Berks, Herts) and at The Half Moon, Putney

[songofthewind]

Saw them last year at O2. Last few times I’ve seen them the bass has been muddy and indistinct. Also, they lack a little fire these days. Puts me off going again.

[SpondonBassed]

11 minutes ago, Kebabkid said:

Stanley Dee

Oh that's a brilliant tribute band name.  Well done!

I'd sort of like to see the Dan but as mentioned, it's a bit late to see the undiluted core of the band.  I'd never be able to get a ticket anyway so no regrets.

[bubinga5]

Has anyone actually seen the band line up.? I would pay the coin to Fagen alone. 

[fleabag]

I would imagine they would be superb musicians, since that's what Becker and Fagen have used throughout their brilliant careers

[bubinga5]

Its a once in my life time (I suspect) opportunity  to see one of my favorite bands/band leaders of all time.. I won't be missing it.

[Mickeyboro]

In 1974 they cancelled on me! Caught them in 2000 but it wasn't the same. I may wait till 2026...

[bubinga5]

9 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

In 1974 they cancelled on me! Caught them in 2000 but it wasn't the same. I may wait till 2026...

Im wondering if/hoping Fagen will be around in 2026. He is 70 years old.

[songofthewind]

The band are, without exception, stormingly good pros, who can groove like an army of mofo’s. Just a little.. polite. But the gold standard for musicianship, to my mind.

[Japhet]

Much as I'd love to see SD, I really have had it with big venues. Last few times I've been to Wembley or the O2 have been shockingly expensive with atrocious sound every time.

[ianrendall]

3 hours ago, fleabag said:

I guess it's just Fagen and some musicians, since 50% of the band has sadly died

True enough, but the musicians will be absolutely top of the line. 

[fleabag]

They certainly will be, as i posted earlier. They've always used the very best for the tracks in question

[louisthebass]

Won't be the same without WB - glad I got to see the Dan at Hammersmith when they came to the UK in 2007 or 2008.

Played a lot of the classics like Peg, Josie, Haitian Divorce, Kid Charlemagne, etc.. Rhythm section that night was Keith Carlock & "Ready" Freddie Washington.

[zranyard]

I'm so gutted that I'm going to miss this tour, like others have said it isn't the band everyone thinks of, but it'll be one hell of a band regardless and I'm sure they'll do a fine job of performing the songs.  I'd pay that money just to see Freddie Washington to be honest, he really is a wonderful player. 

[casapete]

Not a big SD fan myself, but they do have Steve Winwood as a special guest  - absolute legend.

[Kebabkid]

I, too, saw them last year at The O2 with The Doobies and they were good and Freddie Washington was on bass and I think it may have been Carlock, too. Jon Herrington did a good job on guitar but Fagen had seen better days and he's main vocal was iffy and being reinforced by the backing singers, but it was a nostalgia trip and I preferred this performance to the one I saw of their's in the 90s.

I have to agree with Gary (Cetera) though that The Doobies stole the show that night and really packed a punch.

Edited September 7, 2018 by Kebabkid

[songofthewind]

....and in the absence of Walter, Jon Herrington cut loose a bit more, I thought.

You could could feel the grief and loss coming off of DF, and I thought the band were very slightly raggedy and shaken, in a good way. 

To me, SD songs are about alienation and being marginal. Read Eminent Hipsters if you find this strand of thought interesting.

That night at the O2, those qualities we’re back in the frame big time. It was the most affecting SD gig I’ve ever been to.

Just a shame I couldn’t hear Freddie Washington.

I think I’m talking myself into buying tickets!

[Frank Blank]

16 hours ago, songofthewind said:

Saw them last year at O2. Last few times I’ve seen them the bass has been muddy and indistinct. Also, they lack a little fire these days. Puts me off going again.

Me too, I’ve seen them twice, the last time being at the O2 last year, both times were lacklustre performances, like they were just going through the motions, with or without Becker. I love SD but do be prepared to be disappointed, I left the last gig half way through.

[ianrendall]

2 hours ago, Frank Blank said:

Me too, I’ve seen them twice, the last time being at the O2 last year, both times were lacklustre performances, like they were just going through the motions, with or without Becker. I love SD but do be prepared to be disappointed, I left the last gig half way through.

Yes I’ve heard this. It’s probably the only time I’ll get to see them live though. They have been touring very heavily for years now, can’t be easy to keep up the enthusiasm and freshness for that long. I’d rather a new album to be honest. 

[roceci]

Seen them twice over here and was a bit disappointed to be honest. The band was hot (hehe) of course, but the whole thing was on half speed and it's painful watching Don stretch his neck to reach for notes he can't get anywhere near these days. I'll save the ticket money and put it towards Nearly Dan next month, sound better than the real thing nowadays, great show.

[Frank Blank]

47 minutes ago, ianrendall said:

Yes I’ve heard this. It’s probably the only time I’ll get to see them live though. They have been touring very heavily for years now, can’t be easy to keep up the enthusiasm and freshness for that long. I’d rather a new album to be honest. 

Yes, you have to go, like I did, just be prepared to yawn, perhaps take something to read?